Millions of retirees are puzzling about the best location to retire. In U.S. News and World Report, Emily Brandon ranks Port Charlotte, Florida as one of the most affordable places to live in the entire nation. The median home sale price was an amazingly low $59,950 in 2010. Has anyone even heard of Port Charlotte? Well, it’s a quiet town on the Florida Gulf Coast near a harbor and it contains lots of canal homes. These factors make it a virtual paradise for anyone who owns a boat or enjoys boating or fishing. Believe it or not, the area encompasses over 270 square miles of cruising waters and 219 miles of protected shoreline.

Arguably, the second most important plus for Port Charlotte is its central location. Port Charlotte and nearby Punta Gorda are within a 45 minute drive of either Sarasota or Fort Myers. Thus one can live in a serene, low traffic area within easy reach of two excellent metropolitan areas.

Charlotte County contains 12 miles of Gulf beaches, convenient marinas and boating clubs, 14 golf courses ranging from executive to championship, 70 parks and recreational areas, and 4 public libraries. The Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park spans 42,000 acres, and the Babcock-Webb Wildlife Management Area spans 65,770 acres. Then the Peace River Wildlife Center fills out this triumvirate of pristine natural habitats, offering shelter to orphaned and injured wild animals.

The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra makes its home in Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda features the nationally acclaimed International Sailing School. Also, for the more physically active, there is the Carmalita Athletic Park and the Charlotte County Speedway.

In Punta Gorda, golf is a favorite pasttime for local residents and visitors. Punta Gorda and its surrounds has the distinction of being ranked the third best city in America for golf by Golf Digest. This ranking was based upon access, weather, value and quality of golf. They are proud to be recognized for this accomplishment. The Kingsway Country Club course is a championship course whose greens were voted best in southwest Florida. The Riverwood Golf Club is rated 4 ½ stars in Golf Digest. And the Bobcat Trail Golf Club course is rated by Golf Digest as a must-play 4-star course.

Additional draws for retirees include fine medical facilities, and the lack of a Florida tax on income — including interest and dividend income. Especially as the feisty baby boomers retire, there will be an increasingly larger active senior population. This population will place a huge value on their personal independence. They will hire companions to provide in-home senior care. This home senior care will allow them to enjoy freedom to plan their lives and daily activities themselves for many extra years. Elite Senior Companions offers caring non-medical home care services such as transportation, home chores and cooking.